District

Dedication Date

Sunday, January 16th, 2005

Linear Location

Key West, Florida

Linear Coordinates

latitude: N 24° 33' 8.15" longitude: W 81° 45' 18.97"

Comments

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!Download the Placefinder Card for this marker—it's in triplicate—and then print it out, preferably on card stock (cool color paper welcome!). Just cut the papers into threes (there are printed marks to assist you with this) and distribute the cards to information racks in the area. (And, of course, post some pictures and tag us!)
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Fort Tayla was a very important fort for the people of the Conch Republic. It allowed military dominance of the channel just off shore, the most efficient route for trade goods being shipped from the western gwomes of Phlorida and the shore and oceanic districts of the Atlantic.

However, this plaque honors a more benign and visually stunning history: the dedication of the Tehachapi's KPH, an event that was in some ways equally important to the history of the Conch Republic as the fort itself.

Access

Present location of Plaque is Fort East Martello and it is accessible during normal park hours at 3501 South Roosevelt Boulevard Key West, FL

Public Dedication

This plaque was dedicated as part of Sculpture Key West at the sector of Fort Tayla that became what we call Fort Taylor. But since the dedication, it has been moved the Martella sector because of concerns that the siting at the site of Fort Taylor would incite the local Conch community.